Loons denied vital win by spectacular strike

Forfar Athletic picked up a point in their battle to beat the drop but were denied all three by a sensational strike from Airdrie’s Nicky Cadden.

The Loons looked on course for a crucial win when Omar K ad er gave them a first-half lead. However, Cadden’s spectacular strike leaves the Station Park men in the relegation play-off spot.

The Lo ons started the quicker, carving out their first opportunity after 10 minutes but Gavin Swankie saw his halfvolley easily gathered by home keeper Neil Parry, the first of many saves in a busy night for the Diamonds keeper.

Airdrie responded with a couple of efforts of their own and on 20 minutes Bryan Prunty played in skipper Marc Fitzpatrick whose first-time strike swerved wide of the target.

The breakthrough came at the other end when Euan Spark sent over a low cross which fell nicely for Kader who saw his first effort well blocked by Parry.

However, the Forfar midfielder showed quick reactions to pounce on the rebound and plant it firmly into the bottom corner from close range to give his side a deserved half-time lead.

The Loons continued to dominate on the restart and they almost doubled their lead on 48 minutes when Tom O’Brien’s powerful downward header appeared to be blocked on the goal-line by team-mate Andy Ryan.

O’Brien went close again soon after when his fierce volley crashed off the bar on to the goal-line and Forfar were made to pay for the missed opportunities when Cad den showed real skill to volley the ball home from 25 yards on the hour mark.

Forfar came close with a header from Danny Denholm which flew just wide of the target, while Ryan was denied by the outrushing Parry.

Airdieonians: Parry, D Ferguson, MacDonald, Crighton, Lithgow, Fitzpatrick, Faria, Thompson (Stewart 75), Cadden, Prunty (Cox 54), Lister. Unused subs: O’Neil, Brown, R Ferguson, Esposito, Bain.

Forfar: Hill, Spark, Kennedy, O’Brien, Rodger, Fotheringham (Young 35), Martin, Kader, Swankie, Ryan, Denholm. Unused subs: Hodge, Campbell, Hay, Devine, Mailer, King.

Referee: D Munro.